The air inside the royal courtyard trembled as Prince Ravender stepped forward, his eyes blazing with anger. The golden crest on his chest seemed to glow under the sun, his voice cutting through the silence like a blade.
"Vaela… you dare stand in front of me after what happened?"
Isaac clenched his fists, but before Vaela could speak, he stepped forward himself. His voice was steady, though his heart pounded against his ribs.
"Please… forgive her. If someone should take the blame, it's me."
The crowd gasped. Ravender's glare shifted from Vaela to Isaac, his lips curling into a cold smirk.
"Forgive? No… If you want to protect her, then prove it. Fight me."
Isaac froze. His mind raced—he wasn't ready to face a prince, especially not someone like Ravender. But before he could answer, the Supreme Lord, seated above in the shadowed throne, raised his hand.
"Let's see if this boy is worth anything," the Lord said with a hint of amusement.
Ravender's smirk widened. "If you won't fight me, then fight them."
With a snap of his fingers, ten armored soldiers marched forward. Each carried the burning aura of the Hyena Spirit, their snarls echoing across the arena like predators ready to feast.
Isaac's throat tightened. Ten against one… their presence alone pressed against him like a heavy storm.
"You can't defeat them," Ravender said coldly. "But try. Let's see how long you last."
Isaac wanted to refuse. He wanted to walk away. But when his eyes darted back to Vaela, trembling behind him, his chest burned with determination. He stepped into the arena.
The crowd erupted in cheers, sensing blood. The first soldier lunged forward, claws glowing with spirit energy. Isaac moved fast, relying only on his natural fighting technique, blocking and striking where he could. But the Hyena Spirit's ferocity pushed him back.
"Tch…" Isaac gritted his teeth. He couldn't win like this. Not holding back.
Closing his eyes for a brief second, he whispered to himself—Tiger Spirit… lend me strength.
His aura flared faintly, just 2%, his movements sharper, his strikes heavier. He clashed with the soldier, their blows shaking the ground. But it wasn't enough.
Another slash grazed his arm. Isaac's breathing quickened. He pushed to 5%, his speed surging, his kicks landing harder. The tide began to turn, but still, the soldier kept coming.
"Fine…!" Isaac roared, letting his spirit rise to 7%. His eyes burned with tiger-like ferocity, his movements blurring with speed. A final strike crashed against the soldier's chest, sending him sprawling across the ground unconscious.
The crowd exploded.
One by one, the other soldiers stepped in. Isaac fought desperately, adjusting with every clash—dodge, strike, counter. His fists bruised, his body aching, but his spirit wouldn't let him stop. He dropped soldier after soldier, the arena floor stained with the echoes of battle.
By the ninth, sweat drenched his brow, his chest heaved like a wild beast. But when the last soldier fell, silence swept the courtyard.
That's when the wind shifted.
From the grand stairs, a figure appeared—a girl with flowing yellow hair that caught the sunlight like strands of gold. Her rose-colored dress shimmered with jewels, a crown resting lightly on her head. Every step she took carried grace, her hair breezing softly as if the world bent around her presence.
Whispers rippled through the crowd.
"It's her… Princess Diya."
Isaac blinked, stunned. Even mid-battle, her arrival drew all eyes. Her gaze, calm yet sharp, fixed on the battlefield—on him.
Ravender folded his arms, his smirk never fading.
"Well, little tiger… you've done well so far. But the game isn't over."
With a snap, the fallen soldiers stirred. One by one, their eyes glowed, their Hyena Spirits howling into the air. Then—something unthinkable.
Their spirits merged. Ten became one. Their bodies united, transforming into a towering beast of snarling energy, fangs dripping with malice.
Isaac's breath caught in his throat. The ground quaked beneath its roar.
The crowd screamed. Princess Diya's expression hardened. Ravender's smirk deepened.
"Now," Ravender said, his voice like steel, "let's see if you can survive this."
The monster charged.
To be continued…